,·Private (nonprofit)·Est. 1927
“Private STEM university near Washington, D.C. specializing in engineering, cybersecurity, and IT.”
Capitol Technology University is a small, specialized private STEM university located in Laurel, Maryland, roughly halfway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Founded in 1927 as the Capitol Radio Engineering Institute, the university has evolved into a focused technical institution with programs concentrated almost entirely in cybersecurity, engineering (electrical, computer, astronautical, mechatronics), computer science, information technology, uncrewed and autonomous systems, aviation, and business technology management. Capitol Tech is one of the first institutions in the nation designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency, and it holds additional NSA CAE designations in Cyber Research and Cyber Operations — a rare triple designation shared with only a handful of U.S. universities. Despite its modest size (about 1,000 students across all levels), Capitol Tech operates like a polytechnic: Astronautical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Electrical Engineering are ABET-accredited, and students have hands-on access to a Space Operations Institute, a mission control lab, a cyber range, and a satellite ground station on campus. The school runs unique doctoral programs in Space Cybersecurity, Aviation Cybersecurity, Quantum Computing, and Unmanned and Autonomous Systems — niches that exist at very few universities nationwide — alongside its undergraduate backbone. Capitol Tech is also notable for a four-year tuition guarantee: full-time students who keep their account current are promised tuition will not rise more than 1% per year over four years. Student life reflects the university's specialized mission. Residents live in fully furnished apartment-style housing in Innovator's Hall with single-sex floors, and clubs lean technical — IEEE, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, a Radio Club, and the Capitol Balloon Experiment Club (which launches high-altitude research balloons) are central to campus life. Proximity to federal employers (NSA, NASA Goddard, DoD contractors, Fort Meade) drives internship pipelines and career outcomes, with many alumni moving directly into cybersecurity, aerospace, and defense roles. Capitol Tech is designated by the U.S. Department of Defense as a military-friendly school and enrolls a meaningful share of veteran and active-duty students.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling Admissions
Rolling deadline for Fall; international new F-1 applicants must apply by June 1
Spring Rolling
International new F-1 applicants must apply by October 1
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$27,592
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
Capitol Tech's flagship cybersecurity degree, taught on a campus minutes from the NSA and Fort Meade, with hands-on labs in a dedicated cyber range and NSA CAE-CD/CAE-R/CAE-CO designations.
4 years
ABET-accredited program with access to Capitol's Space Operations Institute, mission control lab, and satellite ground station — an unusually hands-on undergraduate space engineering pathway.
3 years
One of the only doctoral programs in the world dedicated to securing space-based systems, combining aerospace engineering, cybersecurity, and policy.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $27,592
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
